American History: Slave Narrative of Martha Richardson

Farmers Market at Assembly Street -
Image Source: Columbia Historical Photos (1865 - 1918)


Posted at Access Genealogy:

Interviewer: Stiles M. Scruggs
Person Interviewed: Martha Richardson
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Place of Residence: 924 Senate Street, Columbia, SC
Date of Birth: 1860

Martha Richardson, who tells this story, lives at 924 Senate Street, Columbia, S.C. Her father was an Indian and her mother a mulatto. She was born in Columbia in 1860 and was five years old, when General W.T. Sherman’s Federal troops captured and burned the city in 1865.

“When I gits big ‘nough to pick up chips for de cook stove, we was livin’ in de rear of Daniel Gardner’s home, on Main Street, and my mammy was workin’ as one of de cooks at de Columbia Hotel. De hotel was run by Master Lowrance, where de Lorick & Lowrance store is now. 
“My daddy, like de general run of Indians, love to hunt but de game not bring much cash in. My mammy often give him some change (money) and he not work much but he always good to mammy and she love him and not fuss at him, much. I soon learn dat if it had not been for mammy, we wouldn’t a had much to eat and wear. We go ‘long lak dat for a good while and my mammy have friends ‘nough dat she seldom had to ask for a job.
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